Deuteronomio 25:8

8 Entonces los ancianos lo llamarán y le hablarán. Si persiste en decir: “No quiero casarme con ella”,

Deuteronomio 25:8 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 25:8

Then the elders of his city shall call him
Require him to come, before them, and declare his resolution, and the reasons for it; recite this law to him, and explain the nature of it, and exhort him to comply with it, or show reason why he does not, at least to have his final resolution upon it:

and speak unto him;
talk with him upon this subject, and give him their best advice; and what that was Maimonides ^F15 more particularly informs us; if it is good and advisable to marry, they advise him to marry; but if it is better advice to pluck off the shoe, they give it; as when she is young and he is old, or she is old and he young, they advise him to allow the shoe to be plucked off:

and [if] he stand [to it]: and say, I like not to take her;
if, after all the conversation, debate, and counsel between them, he is resolute, and abides by his first determination, that he will not marry her, then the following method was to be taken.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Yebum Vechalitzab, c. 4. sect. 1.

Deuteronomio 25:8 In-Context

6 El primer hijo que ella tenga llevará el nombre del hermano muerto, para que su nombre no desaparezca de Israel.

7 »Si tal hombre no quiere casarse con la viuda de su hermano, ella recurrirá a los ancianos, a la entrada de la ciudad, y les dirá: “Mi cuñado no quiere mantener vivo en Israel el nombre de su hermano. Se niega a cumplir conmigo su deber de cuñado”.

8 Entonces los ancianos lo llamarán y le hablarán. Si persiste en decir: “No quiero casarme con ella”,

9 la cuñada se acercará a él y, en presencia de los ancianos, le quitará una de las sandalias, le escupirá en la cara, y dirá: “Esto es lo que se hace con quien no quiere mantener viva la descendencia de su hermano”.

10 Y para siempre se conocerá en Israel a ese hombre y a su familia como “los descalzos”.